Road Cycling - Pedal Choice?

hello fellow cyclists!

I am just recently getting back into cycling after after about 1 year not doing any, i quit becuase i couldnt find a riding partner and have recently found someone to ride with. My bike is about 3 years old and is a bottom of the range Giant Road bike. However is only has straps, and as i keep on hearing clipless pedals are the way to go. I am on a tight budget and wondering what are the best and cheapest clipless pedals to get. I have a second hand pair of Netti road shoes, with with a worn pair of Red Look cleats. I have seen a few cheap pedals, namely the Exus E-12 and the look pp236. Are the Exus (imitation Look) pedals just as good as the look pedals, (they are about $40 AU) cheaper then the look pp236, or should i go with the look pedals? Any advice would be of great help.

Cheers.

By the way my bike isnt that bad, but i would really love to get my hands on a better and least mid range bike, however i am a lame ass student who only spends money on alcohol and food.

Best and cheap do not compute.The Exus will serve. Give up the alcohol.It will kill you.Concentrate on bikes and sex(safe),after studies of course.

Crank Brothers Eggbeaters are the best pedals ever made. Expensive, yes, but worth every cent.

what makes the eggbeaters so great? besides being able to clip in 4 different ways

Hype, and cus some magazine sed so.

speedplay x3 for around $95 new
what is speedplay? (http://www.speedplay.com)

I have Egg Beaters on 3 bikes and now can't imagine using anything else. There is probably no design as easy to click in and out of. The design is probably as simple as a clipless pedal can be made. And they are easily rebuildable.

If your shoes will only accept Look-type cleats (many take both Look or SPD type, but not all do), you might get buy for less with a pair of inexpensive Looks. I know the Exus are Look compatible. Look pedals come with a new pair of cleats. I'm not sure about Exus. I was very pleased with Look pedals.

I vote Speedplay

I heard the speedplays were like standing on an ice cube... so i ordered some looks.. 247 i think... hope they're ok

I finally went out and got myself a pair of look pp236 on layby for now! hopefully have e by next week. They were the heapest i found as the plae was only down to their last few pairs

I had the original Looks when they came out 10 - 15 years ago, (Fixed, really bothered my knees!) I went to Time pedals about 8-10 years ago and loved them! This past spring I went to speedplay X/2's couldn't be happier! For me the extra float is GREAT!!! The other weekend I threw on the old Time pedals for comparison and once again had that "fixed" pedal sensation. (They came off in a flash). In my mind, there is no better pedal out there than Speedplay. Just my 2 cents...


P.S. If you do not like all that float try the Speedplay ZERO system which allows you to dial in from 0 to 15 degrees of float.

;)

Originally posted by Ritalin
I heard the speedplays were like standing on an ice cube...
Yeah, they are that way, but after a few rides (maybe 2 or 3?)
you get used to it. I'm thinking that whatever you start with
(look, speedplay,eggbeaters etc.) is the one you're the most
comfortable with, at least that makes sense to me.

Marty

So happy to see so many speedplay people!

YEAH!:beer:

Originally posted by Cipher
P.S. If you do not like all that float try the Speedplay ZERO system which allows you to dial in from 0 to 15 degrees of float.

I had Speedplay Frogs on my RB and liked them for the most part. The problems I did have with them were excessive float which I never got totally used to and cleat/shoe incompatibilities (had to mount a clunky adapter and do a lot of trimming of the SPD cleat box area). I switched over to Zeros and have been extremely happy. I can now adjust not only the total float but adjust inboard and outboard float independently. I run 4 deg inboard and 6 deg outboard.

Excel Sports has some Looks on closeout right now. I seem to remember the PP396(?) with the adjustable float are just over $100.

Worth considering.

:cool::cool::cool: Wait a month until the NEW DURA-ACE pedal comes out!!!!! :cool::cool::cool:
http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2002/tradeshows02/eurobike02/images/b2b/shimpedals[1].jpg

http://www.cyclingnews.com/photos/2002/tech/probikes/usps/new_Shimano_pedal.jpg

Originally posted by knifun
:cool::cool::cool: Wait a month until the NEW DURA-ACE pedal comes out!!!!! :cool::cool::cool:
Why bother? Why buy the copy when you can the original?

I love my Shimano shoes and Speedplay Zero Stainless Steel Pedals. Nashbar.com has them for $194. There is an epinions page that talks about pedals... see this link....
http://www.epinions.com/content_1178116228

I think its best to focus on any pedal that lets your knees move they way they were designed to move and you personally can
get in/out of quickly are best. Then its just a matter of weight.

MikeBike...
how do you like the Zeros compared to the X-series?
(is Zero just a refined X?)

Originally posted by khuon


I had Speedplay Frogs on my RB and liked them for the most part. The problems I did have with them were excessive float which I never got totally used to and cleat/shoe incompatibilities (had to mount a clunky adapter and do a lot of trimming of the SPD cleat box area). I switched over to Zeros and have been extremely happy. I can now adjust not only the total float but adjust inboard and outboard float independently. I run 4 deg inboard and 6 deg outboard.


usnagent007:


W/ the Zero's you can fine tune your float from 0 degrees thru 15 degrees, as quoted above both inboard and outboard can be dialed in for "degree" of float. The x-series have no float restriction thru a 28 degree range.

Velociraptor,

Why bother? Why buy the copy when you can the original? The answer is two-fold, (a) the Shimano's are lighter, (b) the Shimano's work better.

Originally posted by knifun
Velociraptor,
The answer is two-fold, (a) the Shimano's are lighter, (b) the Shimano's work better.

OK, I'll play the Devil's advocate, your first statement about Shimano's system being lighter may in fact be true, But as far as their working better... :rolleyes:

Originally posted by knifun
The answer is two-fold, (a) the Shimano's are lighter, (b) the Shimano's work better.
"A" perhaps, but I honestly have trouble imagining how the Shimano Look pedals would work any better than the Look Look pedals. My Looks work perfectly well; they engage and release with no problems and the spindle bearings are like butter...

I have to admit it makes quite a statement when a company such as Shimano, settles on a pedal design so closely resembling that of another... (Imimation is the sincerest form of flattery). That said, if you want my opinion on the best pedal system going, I'd still have to say Speedplay.


You know what they say though, "Opinions are like @$$holes & elbows, everybodys got'em!" :D

Pedals are like new car models and new versions of MS Windows. You're better off letting others discover if there are problems...

Originally posted by roadbuzz
Pedals are like new car models and new versions of MS Windows. You're better off letting others discover if there are problems...


Touchè ;)

I read a VeloNews article during the TDF where I believe it was reported that Shimano was trying to get Lance to use the standard Dura Ace pedal. His reply was that he had used Looks all his racing career and that he was not going to change. So Shimano compromised and built a half-dura ace and half-look pedal. This, Lance liked. He and 5 othes used the prototypes in the Tour, now it is going into production.